Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks to Senator Cox, who I know is working hard to deliver real environmental reform as a member of the Australian Labor Party. Reforming Australia's environmental protection laws is a key priority for the Albanese Labor government. I've been consulting extensively over the past three months on these reforms, holding more than 40 meetings, roundtables and forums right across the country, with everyone from state and territory governments and environmental groups to mining companies, property developers, renewable energy proponents and more. In those meetings I've consistently heard that we need to move quickly to reform these laws, as delays mean holding up investment and more environmental destruction. That's why today I announced that the Albanese government is bringing forward the introduction of this legislation to the parliament by six months, beginning the process of overhauling Australia's environmental laws this side of Christmas. This is in direct response to the very clear consensus that we saw at last week's economic roundtable that these reforms are vital for our environment and for business.

What is clear is that these laws are utterly broken. Our environment needs greater protection, and we will not meet our national priorities, like delivering more homes and renewable energy, unless we overhaul these laws. Our reforms, built on Graeme Samuel's recommendations, will deliver stronger environmental protections, faster and more-efficient approvals and assessments for projects, and more transparency when it comes to environmental decision-making. So, these are really vital reforms for the nation, and we invite the support of the coalition and the Greens to deliver them.

It's worth remembering that, in 2021, then environment minister Sussan Ley supported environmental reform, saying: 'If we do not get the process moving, it will end up hurting both the environment and the economy… Unless we pass the bills, we will fall behind, and we will fall behind on environmental protection.' I trust that this remains the position of the opposition leader, and I sincerely hope it's the position of the coalition party room. (Time expired)